Spouse & Family Employment Opportunities

It can be challenging to maintain a career, or just find a job, while transferring to a new duty station with your spouse. The Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) of Yokosuka and Sasebo are here and ready to help alleviate some of that stress and help give direction to your job search while in Japan. A variety of services are available for family members looking for employment through FFSC, including: Employment Overview Workshops, Government Employment Tips, Getting Started Teaching English, English Teacher’s Networking Group, Effective Resume Writing and critiques, Interview Techniques, Volunteer Opportunities, and Self -Paced Computer Tutorial Programs.

FFSC’s Work and Family Life (WFL) Consultants also provide advice on what jobs are available in Yokosuka and Sasebo, review job applications, critique resumes, and provide informational counseling.

To contact your Work and Family Life consultant in Yokosuka, please call DSN (315) 243-3372/6716, commercial +81-46-816-3372/6716 outside Japan, or DSN 243-3372/6716, commercial 046-816-3372/6716 within Japan, or email ffscinfo@fe.navy.mil.

Helpful information can also be found at FFSC Yokosuka Facebook page below:

Additional Information on spouse/family member employment opportunities on base:

On base, you’ll find that there are several different avenues to find. They include work as a federal employee, working for a U.S. contractor on base, teaching and substitute teaching, teaching English, etc. As discussed previously, it is highly encouraged to speak with or set up an appointment with a local FFSC staff member to discuss all the options available to you.

When searching for Civil Service for family member preference positions as an appropriated fund federal employee, you potentially qualify for overseas family member preference. These preferences are described below:

Overseas Family Member Preference Eligible

Once your spouse has taken his or her new position in Japan, you become eligible to apply for “Family Member preference” positions. Spouse preference is explained below:

Dependent family members of "stateside hire" civil service employees (sponsor) may be eligible to apply for USCS positions open to Military Spouses (first priority) and Overseas Family Member meeting the eligibility requirements.

Overseas Family Member Preference Eligible

You are eligible for this hiring category if you are a spouse, or unmarried dependent child (including stepchild, adopted child, and foster child) not more than 23 years of age who:

1. Resides with a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or a U.S. citizen employee of a U.S. Government Agency (including non-appropriated fund activities) whose duty station is in the foreign area: AND,
2. Have not accepted or declined a permanent position or a temporary position of one year or longer at the new duty station of the sponsor.
**NOTE: This preference does not apply to family members of locally hired civilian employees.

Overseas Family Member Preference Eligible are typically "Local Hire" positions and will not be advertised in USAJobs. Visit USAJOBS to find Overseas Family Member Preference job openings in Yokosuka and Sasebo and apply for them. Search both under U.S. citizens and Federal Employees. Review “who may apply” under each vacancy announcement to see if you’re eligible.

A number of NAF positions are available working for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Activities or the Navy Exchange (NEX). MWR and NEX have their own Human Resources Offices (HRO) and job application processes for their NAF positions. Announcements and information on how to apply for MWR and NEX NAF positions can be found at the following sites:

Volunteer Opportunities: A good way to get your foot in the door and network with potential employers is to volunteer. FFSC has options and information for volunteer bspopportunities. Contact 243-FFSC(3372)/ 046-816-3372, option 3 for more information.

Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) hosts a bi-annual modeling fair with modeling agencies to recruit models. There is NO CHARGE for registering with any of the agencies in attendance looking for models of all ages, shapes, sizes, and types. You must have approval from Staff Judge Advocate General for off-base employment, which is required by any agencies that require off-base bank for payment.

**FFSC offers a monthly class that cover questions and concerns, as well as to share best practices.

Teaching English (or other languages):

Native proficiency places you in demand for individuals wanting to learn a new language.